Does training students for a skill still have a place in secondary education or are academics the only important aspect in society today? I would strongly urge schools to keep vocational programs in the education system today. Vocational systems provide a feeling of success to those students that struggle within the academic field. A vocational option allows students to feel successful with their task, be it auto mechanics/fabrication, welding, or food science. This feeling of success keeps more students in school, hopefully allowing schools to maintain an increase level of graduation rates. Although vocational education does not single handedly keep graduation rates high, I do think there would is a positive correlation to schools with vocational education and the increase in the number of students completing secondary education. In Korea one-third of students attend vocational high schools. How many of our schools in the US are lacking this opportunity for our students?
Skilled labor workers are important to the success of a nation. We need to have individuals that are highly skilled in plumbing, successfully at running equipment, or electrical wiring. It takes all levels of educated individuals to build and maintain and infrastructure that we use every day. These individuals should not be excluded from the educations process. Finland, Korea, and Singapore have these schools, polytechnic or vocational, that students are attending. All is not lost if a member of society completes what some might consider a simple task – it takes all kinds of skills to be successful as a whole.
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ReplyDeleteNick,
ReplyDeleteI think you are absolutely correct. Vocational education is an essential element of our education system. If we want all students to excel or be the best they can be at what they do, we need to perpetuate a climate of learning both academically and vocationally. Classes should be balanced with requirements that include a variety of both of these choices. School accreditation needs to include strong vocational programs as an important part of a successful learning experience.
As we look at the variety of learners we need to step up to the plate to educate. As one of my nephews, not academically inclined, made the comment “I can’t go to college. What am I going to do?” By college he meant academically rich programs at nearby universities. That was a good question that happens to haunt me still today. We need to support all types of learners in our world. We need to step up to the plate.
Nick,
ReplyDeleteI wholeheartedly agree that vocational education is vital to society and would advocate the people working in those professions be afforded more respect within our community. Students shouldn't feel a stigma for choosing a career which is not academic in nature yet this will be difficult is society does not recognize their value. There are lots of ways to be smart and it would not be good for any of us if we were all smart in only a handful of ways! Another reason why focusing on results of high stakes testing seems like trying to keep all our eggs in one basket.
Amazing post Nick...If academics are the only important aspects in society, then you and I might be out of a job. I look at cuts that were made at the end of the year in my high school due to budget cuts and what do you…two vocational programs, woodshop and media productions were two complete programs that were cut. Very sad! Many of the vocational programs within my school and I am sure in yours and every other school are some of the main reason certain kids even come to school.
ReplyDeleteWhether government likes it or not, not every student is cut out for the academic path, and cutting vocational programs is creating students that will not be prepared for the workforce. In turn not being prepared for the workforce means no job, because the student will not have the experience of woodshop, or auto mechanics, or welding, or consumer science, or business technology classes.